Hermit Shell has Friend?

[DrCooper]

Ok so first I apologize but I cant get a photo of this thing. My description might be enough. So I have a hermit crab that has a small dome shaped extra shell (very small like 1/4 cm) with a small opening in the middle of it. I was watching this thing attached the hermits shell and saw it extend a small fan like structure back and forth as if it was feeding. The extra shell that appears to be this creature is greyish in color and the crab that is attached to is fine. What kind of hitchhiker is this and is it safe?


Sorry everyone
Cooper

 

[DontXtripNfall]

Maybe a feather duster of some type, though it could also be a barnacle!

 

[KathyC]

If it looks like a little volcano with a fan that comes out, then it's a barnacle. You dont need to remove it as a single one won't harm anything.
Do get a pic when you can, just for fun

 

[m'akoyPINOY]

+1 on barnacle.i have one on my hermits ,too.

 

[DrCooper]

I shall name him Benny
Benny the barnacle